By Fatou Bojang
During the Local Government Commission of Inquiry, Sandiki Njie, the administrative manager of the Banjul City Council (BCC), detailed systemic dysfunction, mismanagement, and questionable practices within the council, raising serious concerns about governance and integrity from May 2018 to January 2023.
Njie’s testimony is part of an ongoing investigation into BCC’s financial and administrative practices. It painted a grim picture of how internal dysfunction has undermined the council’s operations.
A dedicated civil servant with over two decades of experience, Njie provided compelling evidence of conflicts of interest, administrative mishandling, and a culture of exclusion that has plagued the council since 2018. Throughout his career at BCC, Njie has served in various capacities, including Internal Audit Clerk and Public Relations Officer, before rising to his current role. However, he recounted a stark shift in his involvement post-2018, where he was systematically excluded from crucial management meetings. This led to decisions being made behind closed doors without proper oversight.
Among the most alarming aspects of Njie’s testimony was his mishandling of a D3.1 million European Union project intended to enhance council development efforts. He revealed discrepancies related to a scholarship program associated with the project, where he applied but was denied without clear justification despite evidence of a senior manager receiving a scholarship.
This prompted Njie to escalate the issue to the National Assembly, highlighting the council’s discriminatory practices. Njie’sNjie’s testimony also revealed personal grievances against CEO Mustapha Batchilly, including an incident where his office belongings were moved without his consent while on leave. He described the CEO’s actions as retaliatory and indicative of broader intimidation issues within the council.
In a critical moment, Njie presented a letter he sent to the CEO in June 2019, outlining unlawful appointments and procedural violations that undermined the council’s integrity. He specifically warned about these unlawful hiring practices, circumventing established protocols, including a consultancy contract awarded to an unqualified individual.
The inquiry also delved into the Ratela initiative, a women’s leadership program. Njie questioned the financial entanglements between BCC and the project, emphasizing the need for clear accountability in the usage of council funds.
Further issues emerged regarding the council’s procurement processes, with Njie highlighting the absence of a proper oversight framework, which leads to inefficiencies and potential financial mismanagement. He raised concerns about substantial funds allocated for software that had not been purchased or implemented, further casting doubt on the council’s financial stewardship.
The inquiry into the Banjul City Council continues, with Njie’s testimony set to resume on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as investigators seek to uncover the full extent of mismanagement and misconduct within one of The Gambia’s key local authorities.
